Construction of wings and the like for aerial machines.



C. M. VON EUGEN '& H. LETCHFORD.

CONSTRUCTION OF WINGS AND THE LIKE FOR AERIAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FlLED NOV-21, l9l7.

Patented Oct. 15, 1918'.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

Il |a| I? l9 0 n [w vow C. M. VON E UGEN 64 H. LETCHFORD.

CONSTRUCTION OF WINGS AND THE LIKE FOR AERIAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-2|. I9l7.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

C. M. VON EUGEN & H. LETCHFORD.

CONSTRUCTION OF wmcs AND THE LIKE FOR AERIAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.2I, 1911. LZBLQQQ. I Patented Oct. 15, 1918..

S 16 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I l I I l I I I i ALI/M7 5 W QM,

snares PATENT canton.

CHARLES MARIE VON EUGEN AND HARRY LETCHFOED, 0F COVENTRY, ENGLAND.

CONSTRUCTION OF WINGS AND THE LIKE FOR MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @ct. 115, 11918.

Application filed November 21, 1917. Serial No. 203,129.

Aerial Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the manufacture of wings and the like for aeroplanes, and similar parts, such as balancing planes, clevators. and the like. as used on aeroplanes and air-ships, and it has for its object-to provide a strong and light construction which will be non-inflammable. incapable of warping, and simple to manufacture.

The invention comprises the combination of spars, tubular or composed of two combined channel members, ribs which taper fore and aft and are provided with sinuous webs of which the peaks of each of the bends are connected alternately to the upper and lower plates of the rib, an edging of tubing or U-shaped metal-strips. and a: covering preferably of sheet metal The channel members forming the hollow spars can be arranged either back to back or one inside the other. The ribs can be curved to follow the curvature of the wing section. Thebends of the sinuous web are connected alternately to the upper and lower plates of the rib preferably by flanges formed at each of the bends, while the web may be grooved or corrugated to afiord additional strength.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan of a supporting plane for an aeroplane:

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, showing the construction of a rib.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a spar.

Fig. l is a transverse section through a main compression rib. while Fig. 5 is a section through a secondary rib.

Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a vertical and a horizontal section through a rear spar.

Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively a. vertical section and a plan of a spar showing a method of attaching eyes or other parts.

Figs. 12 and 13 are sections through the leading and trailing edges respectively, showing the method of finishing ofit'. these parts.

Fig. 14 is a vertical section through an end rib.

Fig. 15 is a sec-tion showing how a joint may be effected between two planes or between two parts of a single plane.

Fig. 16 is a section on the line 16-16 in I Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a plan of the construction shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a horizontal section through the end of a spar.

Fig. 19 shows a method of connecting a. bottom plane to a fuselage, mast or the like.

Figs. 20 and :21 are respectively a vertical and a horizontal section showing the construction of a spar formed as a box girder.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction illustrated, the front edging A and rear edging B and the spars C and D are connected by main compression ribs E and secondary ribs E The ribs are formed of an upper plate F and a lower plate G joined by a slnuous web H which in the case of main ribs is double as shown in Fig. 4, while for the secondary ribs a single strip is employed. see Fig. 5. In both cases the sinuous strips are corrugated to afiord stifiness and are provided with flanges H at each of the bends to connect alternately to the plates F and G.

The spars C, D. are formed of metal of channel section riveted or bolted back to back as shown at C in Fig. 6 and havin their edges turned over for stiffness; an the holes in their web portions may be flanged over for the same purpose. Further. plates or strips of metal C (see Figs. 6 and 8) may be placed over the adjoining flange portions'oithe channels-and riveted in place, while the webs may be formed to of 1916. Figs. t and 7 also show'the method jof attachment of the ribs to the-spars. Thev to the section of the spars enabling them to l ribs are provided with apertures conforming,

he'threaded' over the spars and angle pieces 10 are attached to the ribs and then bolted up to the web of the spar, packing pieces .be desirable to arrange for a. pivotal support for an aileron or othepmeinber, and" cured in upon the for the attachment bolts.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a portion of a rear spar at the point where no trailing proper is employed. At such a point it-may this may be efiected by adapting the register' ring J to receive a hinge member K.

the hinge member K. I

' In Figs. 10 and 11 is illustrated a construction for attaching any desired parts to the spars.- For instance, the parts to be attached may be levers, struts, or wiring plates,- but the drawings illustrate: simple eyes M, by way of exampleonly. Itwill be seen that the spar is drilled preferably on either-side of a rib and the pieces M are soition by bolts N;

sn 1y between V the flanges of the spar. Pa diing pieces P may be employed where required, and upon tightening up the bolts it will be clear that the com ression strain is taken by the ferrules so t at the spar and weakened unduly in any one direction.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, the edging is of metal tube which may be reinforced with a coreof cane-O This tube is inclosed by the "rib plates F and G. The covering material is then put into position andthe edging is completed by superposing a U- shaped strip held in position by screws 0.

The covering throughout ispreferably of this sheet metal, indicated by X in the various views, secured in position by rivets or screws having countersunk heads which gr 1p a comparatively large area of the coverlng material. In Fig. 14 is shown an end rib which is closed by a plate R which, at the same time, secures the covering material.

Figs. 15,16, and 17 illustrate how a joint may be efl'ected between a main plane and a central plane, or between two parts of a single plane. It will be seen that at the point of attachment the planes are provided on the upper and lower faces with hinge members S which are secured to the spars by bolts S ferrules being inserted as described 'bolti acemes J fwith reference to Figs. 10 and ll. The 'position of the joint is such that the planes abut receive register rings J as describedin ourf co-pending British application No. 1671? firmly together, and when the hinge pins are inserted a firm joint is obtained. The hingev is notactually intended to afiord a pivotal joint but affords a convenient method of construction.

joint is to be located at this point. channel pieces have their flange portions re- Fig.. 18 illustrates how the end of a span vmay be finished oil, particularly where a l iutt he moved for ashort distance and the webs are 'then'turned over to close the ends of the channels. A plate is then placed over the end and secured in position by rivets or the like. Fig. 19 illustrates the method of attachment of a wing to the fuselage, or a mast in,

the case of a monoplane. It will be seen that [the end of the spar is embraced by a yoke The edge of the spar is then closed by a: plate L, which is perforated topass over T upon which is mounted one member '1 of a ball-and-socket joint, the other memberof which is attached to'the fuselage or other part; r

struction of box girder for employment in the case'of a wing flap or elevator spar. This comprises two dished elements U, U fitting one within the other, and passing between the upper and lower plates of the ribs. The parts are then secured by rivet-ing and ng, the covering secured at the same time. A hinge member V may also be attached to the dishedl'members and to flanges formed'at the ends of a sinuous web serving to brace the structure. 1

In Figs. 20 and 21thereis shown a con- What we'claim as our invention and desire to'secure by Letters Patent is:

1. -A metal wing or supportingplane or the like for aerial machines, comprising hollow .spars, ribs tapering fore and aft and each composed of an upper and a lower plate andthere between a continuous sinuous web having the peaks of each of its bends con- 7 nected alternately to the said upper and lower plates, an edgipfi of metal tube, and 'a covering of sheet me 2. "A metal. wing, as specified in claim 1 in which the hollow spars are composed 0 two channel members secured together.

3. A metal wing, as specified in claim 1, in

which the edging consistsin'a U-shapedspars; ribs tapering fore and aft and each composed of an upper and lower plate, and there between a continuous sinuous web hav- V ing the peaks of each of its bends connected alternately to the said upper and lower plates, and having flanges at its bends for connection to the said plates, a separate edging, and a covering of sheet metal 6. A metal wing or supporting plane for aerial machines. comprising hollow spars ribs tapering fore and aft and each composed of. an upper and lower plate and thereetween a corrugated continuous 5111110115 1 web having the peaks of each of its bends connected alternately to the said upper and lower platesand edging consisting in a U- shaped metal strip, and a covering of sheet metal.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES MARIE vox EUGEX.

HARRY LETCHFORD.

Witnesses:

V. R. GAXT,

J. T. FAZAKARLEY. 

